Chinese beginners: a basic introduction

What is the course about?

This course is a pre-beginners course and and is an ideal lead up to starting Chinese beginners: module 1 as it covers less material than Chinese beginners: module 1.

This is a live online course. You will need:
- Internet connection. The classes work best with Chrome.
- A computer with microphone and camera is best (e.g. a PC/laptop/iMac/MacBook), or a tablet/iPad/smart phone/iPhone if you don't have a computer.
- Earphones/headphones/speakers.
We will contact you with joining instructions before your course starts.

What will we cover?

Students will gain an all-round understanding about the unique characters of Mandarin Chinese.
You will understand the working of Mandarin Chinese phonetic system, including pinyin and tones.
You will understand the origin, the components and the symbols of Chinese characters.
You will hear a lot of Chinese being spoken during the class which will help you familiarise yourself with the tonic pattern of Mandarin Chinese.
You will learn some interesting knowledge about Chinese culture.

What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...

Say greeting words and introduce yourself in Chinese
Learn different ways of saying thank you and good-bye.
Understand some numbers and gestures in Chinese
Learn accurate pronunciation through speaking some one-word, two-word and three-word phrases and some short sentences frequently used in daily life.
Get a basic understanding of the Chinese pronunciation system (pinyin and tones)
Get a basic understanding of Chinese characters and read some basic Chinese characters you might encounter on the street.
Get a basic understanding of some unique characteristics of Chinese grammar
Find out about learning Chinese as a second language and some cultural knowledge.

What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?

For total beginners, no previous knowledge required.The pace of the class will be set by the students.

How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?

This is an online course, so the teaching materials are developed for online teaching. You will join a group of students and all students will be encouraged by the teacher to read, speak and write. There will be organised activities during the class. The teacher will explain some key grammar points, but this course is mainly designed for understanding Chinese language characters and background. Students are not required to remember everything they learn.

Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?

No-the learning materials are developed by the teacher.

When I've finished, what course can I do next?

After this short course, learners can decide whether they would like to sign up for Chinese beginners: module 1 .